MEDFORD, Ore., — During these mild days getting a jump on gardening is on a lot of people’s to do lists. OSU Master Gardeners stopped by the NewsWatch 12 garden to lend some of the expertise. This time of year is perfect for trimming back the dead growth, branches and leaves. By being aggressive with your trimming you allow new growth to flourish. Most plants can take a good pruning with little damage or consequence. Master Gardeners recommend getting some advice before tackling roses or fruit trees as they can require some particular pruning.

This time of year is also great for early planting. Hardy plants like pansies and primroses are best to add color because they can withstand the cold overnight temperatures. Some vegetables can be planted now too but getting too aggressive with those can leave you buying a second round or getting a smaller yield.

The mild winter that is making for lush spring gardens is also going to cause a big insect issue this year. Treating for slugs, snails, and aphids can be done now.

For more information contact the Master Gardeners at your local OSU Extension Office and look for NewsWatch 12’s In The Garden segment starting March 18.

ASHLAND, Ore. — Local farmers and supporters of a GMO-Free Jackson County are meeting tonight. This is comes before a hearing scheduled next week about a GMO lawsuit involving the county and family farms.

The Our Family Farms Coalition and Thrive are hosting presentations and discussions tonight. It’s part of an effort to educate the community on GMOs and updates on the lawsuit. It all starts at 6:30.

A new ordinance 15-119 passed and it goes into effect this June. A representative from the group tells NewsWatch12 they will discuss how to defend it from legal action from GMO companies.

“We’re excited tonight to talk about all the benefits. And just to collaborate with the other farmers, and other food eaters and producers,” said Our Family Farms Director Elise Higley.

Our Family Farms has filed to intervene in the lawsuit. They say that means they want to defend the measure and prove it doesn’t violate the Right to Farm Act.

The hearing is next week, February 4th at 10:30 a.m.

]]>http://www.kdrv.com/update-jackson-co-gmo-lawsuit/feed/35-24-gmo-720x198.jpgSOU Teaming WIth Chevy for Carbon Planhttp://www.kdrv.com/sou-teaming-with-chevy-for-carbon-plan/
http://www.kdrv.com/sou-teaming-with-chevy-for-carbon-plan/#commentsTue, 18 Nov 2014 20:55:55 +0000http://www.kdrv.com/?p=80774Continue reading »]]>DETROIT, Mich. – Chevrolet is purchasing carbon credits worth up to $5 million to help 11 colleges across the U.S. become less carbon reliant, including Southern Oregon University (SOU).

The move is part of the automakers voluntary initiative to reduce 8 million metric tons of carbon from being emitted. According to the company, that’s the equivalent of the annual carbon reduction benefit of a mature forest the size of Yellowstone National Park.

SOU is working to become 100 percent carbon neutral by 2050. By participating in Chevrolet’s carbon-reduction initiative, it is selling carbon credits for its retro-fitted residence halls to Chevrolet for one year. This program enables the university to receive funding for reducing the campus’ carbon footprint through green building practices.

Recently, SOU also hosted a forum debating a proposal to replace its existing natural gas-fired steam boilers with a biomass system. According to the plan, the switch would provide the main campus with heat, while producing electricity that could be sold back into the power grid.

Biomass fuel is a renewable resource that typically comes from forestry byproducts. Supporters of the technology say it creates a use for this material that reduces waste, while also producing a cheap alternative for natural gas, and resulting in lower operating costs.

MEDFORD, Ore — Community members are already bringing recyclables to the new Medford BottleDrop Center. As of Dec. 1, nearby grocery stores will close their bottle-return rooms and send customers to the BottleDrop Redemption Center.

The redemption center had what managers call a “soft opening” on Wed. Nov. 12. The center is open, but stores are still accepting the regular can and bottle returns.

The Medford BottleDrop Center will be the 10th location in the state of Oregon.

Once Dec. 1 rolls around, grocery stores within a two to three mile radius of the center will only accept up to 24 cans or bottles per day, per person. Some of the stores that will be affected include the following: Fred Meyer on Center Drive, Safeway on Crater Lake Highway, WinCo Foods, Costco and Ray’s Food Place in Central Point.

All other grocery stores in the area will continue to accept recyclables as usual.

Oregon Beverage Recycling Cooperative (OBRC) partners with grocery and beverage industries to operate and fund the BottleDrop locations. OBRC has hired employees to help customers when they come to the redemption center and to keep the area around the machines clean.

To get involved with recycling at the center, set up an account at the location (1179 Stowe Avenue) and receive two bags with a barcode system to track the items recycled. The bags can be filled and dropped off at the center.

[In the Garden] — One orchid often seen in homes, the Phalanopsis orchid, is popular for colorful, long lasting blooms. Orchids can grow in a wide variety of media. NewsWatch12′s Kirstin O’Connor met with OSU Extension Master Gardener Diana Robenske to find out more about these plants.

According to the Secretary of State’s Office, nearly $23 million has been raised by campaigns for both sides of Measure 92, with those looking to defeat the proposal out-raising proponents almost 3-to-1.

The news comes on the heels of a new report from Center for Public Integrity, that found that – at just over $5 million in ad buys – the GMO campaign in Oregon is the fifth most expensive race in the country.

MEDFORD, Ore.– Here’s some ideas of what to do and what not to do with your fall leaves.

OSU Master Gardeners say don’t burn them! You can use fall leaves in your garden for compost, mulch, or as a garden amendment; or give them to your gardening friends. You can also call your disposal company for curbside pick-up.

There are, however, some leaves you don’t want to use, such as diseased, or pest ridden leaves, and leaves from walnut trees.

For more information, contact the OSU Extension Master Gardener near you:

MEDORD, Ore.– Bulbs are easy to plant and offer surprise color in the spring. A gardener can choose which to plant by when they bloom. Depending on when you plant them, you can have color from late February through May in your garden. Choose by which may be “safest”, as in the least likely to be eaten by gophers and other critters.

Perennials are also better to plant in the fall. There will be little to no growth of the actual plant in the cold
of winter, which allows time for the plant to put all of its energy into growing a strong root system. Pansies and Violas can withstand the cold and bloom in the winter through the spring.

Plants started in the fall will actually be larger the following growing season than those planted in the spring.

MEDFORD, Ore., — Containers of potted flowers can help decorate a patio or deck. Which is better to use in the containers: annuals or perennials? Annuals bloom for a long time but die when summer ends so have to be replaced every year. Perennials live from year to year so don’t have to be replaced but don’t have as long a bloom time. Here’s a way to have constant blooms that come back from year to year. Plant perennials singly in pots and rotate them so they are “center stage” only when they are in bloom. When they aren’t in bloom, keep them in a side yard that gets good light, keep them just moist, fertilize a few weeks before their bloom time. This is the time of year to buy perennials. The nurseries often have them on sale because they don’t want to keep them over the winter.